What role does asthma medication have in ADHD or depression?

 ADHD in the News 2017-06-08


Asthma medications comprise several drug classes, including leukotriene antagonists and steroid-based inhalers. These drugs have been implicated in behavioral changes, such as increased hyperactivity, similar to symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)1; this scenario is more of a concern in children than adults. This raises the question of whether these medications are physiologically linked to behavioral symptoms because of a suggested association with serotonin.2,3 If this is the case, it is necessary to identify and evaluate possible psychiatric effects of these asthma agents.